“I can responsibly say that what has been reported on this matter is not correct. We have treated your ambassador (Nirupama Rao) very respectably and we have a very good working relationship with your (Indian) Embassy in Beijing,” Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan said in New Delhi.

“I can assure you that nothing as depicted in the media has happened,” he told reporters yesterday at the heavily fortified embassy following recent storming of the pro-independence protests by Tibetans.

“We don’t think it is a big issue. It is a very very minor issue. I don’t think it will affect our relationship. On the contrary, both sides, that is my feeling, don’t see anything wrong”. In future, the timing should be considered.

Though New Delhi has been silent on its envoy being summoned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry at an odd hour, government circles feel this could have been avoided.

On bilateral ties, Zhang acknowledged that there were some pending issues which have not been resolved.

“Of course we don’t deny the differences on the remaining problems our two countries have. But what is important is to report factually and in the right perspective and do not cause problems to the two countries and instead promote the settlement of these problems.”

“The problems are being handled by competent authorities.